Exclusive Interview: Regina King Doesn’t Disappoint

We wanted to know what influenced your decision to be more open about your relationship with Malcolm?

The journalist that I did the Essence interview with, is a journalist that I’ve known for years. She asked about it, and it wasn’t like I could say no. [Chuckles.] So she was a journalist that I respect and has always respected me. It’s not like I’m talking about it in a bunch of interviews all over.

So speak about the importance of privacy. Is it important to maintain and how do you do it?

Definitely. I didn’t talk about my relationship a lot with my ex husband. I don’t talk about our relationship a lot now. Other than moments that I feel like it’s important to clarify.

Prior to the Essence article some paparazzi caught a photo of us, so it made it look as if ‘Oh she went all open.’ Malcolm and I have been going places before, we still go places now. We don’t go places where we know cameras are going to be. We didn’t know that there were cameras there. So after those trashy articles or websites or blogs came out and just starting fabricating stories like, we’re getting married and Malcolm is taking care of my son. That kind of makes me angry. My son’s father is very prominent in his life and Malcolm is not taking care of my son. It’s moments like that I feel it’s important to speak out when you want to set the record straight.

On the Essence Interview:

I knew she [the journalist] would be protective when it came to writing because prior to that there were articles that were coming out [saying] I was dating white guys. Because a journalist in an another interview that we were doing on Boondocks asked my opinion on why the percentage rate of single black women is so high. And I said I think part of it is because black women are the group that is least likely to date outside of their race.

I have plenty of friends that won’t date outside of their race. Even though there are plenty of black men that aren’t even checking for them. They only check for outside of their race. Maybe if they opened up they might find more options and we might not see as many single women. Well that turned into Regina King writes an open letter encouraging black women to date white men.

Now you’re trying to paint the picture disrespecting my man now. Like I don’t love black men. I love all people. It wasn’t a black or white thing but that’s what it became. Picking and choosing which moments to be more open but still at the same time be very protective with my personal life. At the end of the day it’s nobody’s business what I do but mine but I am very aware that I am a public figure.

I happen to really love what I do but I don’t particularly like my family and my child, even more importantly, receiving attention. Unfortunately when you make the decision to be in the public eye, your family whether they want to or not, they become victims.